The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-26
LABOR INTERESTS.

Worthy Foreman Griffith Talks Concerning
the Coming Retirement of Powderly.
CHICAGO. Nov. 25.-'I believe the general
master workman has fully and finally made up
his mind to retire, said General Worthy Fore
man Grifhths. to-day, referring to Mr. Pow
derly's letter reafirming his determination to
decline reelection to the presidency of the
Knights OF Labor. Mr. Griffith ranks next to
Mr.. Powderly in the order and would become
It's chief officer in case Mr.. Powderly should die
or resign before the expiration of his term. Il
look forward to ME retirement with grave appre
hension," be continued; ''he has devoted the
tho best years of his life a self sacrificing and
earnest endeavor to better the condition of
the laboring people Looking back upon
the condition of the wage-workers of the coun-
try few years ago, 1 see wonderful improve
ments have been made in their education They
have acquired and are acquiring better knowl-
edge of industrial affairs. political economy and
general information. This is largely the result
of MIR. Powerly's policy. The anarchistlc
element has assaulted Poverty in every possible
way, but the conservative element is in such an
overwhelming majority that the discordant
faction can have possible influence upon the
order. OF course, this element will enoeavor to
get soma one in sympathy with them into the
master workman's chair, but they can never
succeed in doing that The good sense Of
nation always will prevail in the end, and the
good sense of the half million Knights of Labor
will mako itself felt"
e-"Has one been mentioned as Mr. Pow
derly's probable successor"
s+No. The time is too far off for that. Every
thing in the order is serene and quiet now. and
its affairs are ia excellent shape. MIR. Powderly
has about caught up with the work he had to
neglect while attending the session at Minueap-
oils. He will not abate particle OF his interest
during the coming year, and the events of the
times will probably bring some one into promi-
nence as his successor"
Past, Present and Future of the knights
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 25.-"The Past. Present
and Future of the knights of Labor" formed
the subject of what was termed lecture By
General Master Workman Powderly, this even
ing in Industrial Hall, in aid of the miners on
strike in the anthracite coal region. The body
of the hall was comfortably filed with Knights
r4rs. their friends. among whom were many
Ncmen. Mr.. Powderiy spoke without notes,
au6 By no means confined himself to his subjsct.
After desouncing monopoly as something that, il
allowed to have its way, would make this and
living hell and the most ursed under heaven;
the speaker glanced at the early history of the
knights, whose organization he declared was
''the strongest in point of numbers, intelligence
and manhood of any that ever blessed any coun-
t1y.n After saying considerable about immigra-
tion and the necessity for restricting it to those
Mr. Powderly turned to the troubles in this
State and said: IA breaker is burned, and the
telegraph conveys the news that the miners
have burned it. ] say that is a bare-faced lie.
The miners know better than to burn down
breaker which gives them their work. No miner
burned a breaker in the entire length and
breadth of Pennsylvania" Mr.. Powderiy then
said that the government should take the coal
fields for its own use, that in case of war it
should not be compelled to rely upon corpora
tions for the coal for it's vessels to carry on war
fare against the enemy. He advocated the gov
ernunent controlling its own lines of telegraphs.
and then branched off on the political party of
the knights OF Labor, closing with the remark
that the knights of Labor order was not going
to pieces.
Will Not Recognize the Employers Union.
MILWAUKEE, Nov. 25.-Ar meeting of the
Brewers and Maltsters Union, No. 9, tonight,
the circular of the nine brewery firms OF Mil
waukee was read, and the explanations of the
secretary made. Grottkau delivered an address.
to which about 1000 members of the union
listened. The meeting was orderly and series